Joyous, joyous time of year, Christmas, and what a happy circumstance it is to be in Shanghai for it -- a city that whole-heartedly understands and unwaveringly embraces the real meaning behind it all: shopping for crap. Brace yourselves for a month-long fight to the death to find the right gifts for the people in your lives -- fighting the crowds, racing in cabs all over the city, haggling over pennies.

Just the sort of thing you get to enjoy every day all year round, basically.

Strapped for ideas? Here’s a handy dandy list of Christmas gift suggestions for all the demographics in your life in order of decending importance: women, men and children. Good luck and happy holidays to you all.

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First up: gifts for ladies, and if jewelry and accessories is her thing, here are three ideas for unusual, striking pieces.

Tinkerbell Charm Bracelete

Concept store, Man in the Forest on Julu Lu stocks Disney inspired accessories, clothes and jewelry, including a range of quirky and nostalgic pieces designed by actress Kidada Jones for the Disney Couture range. Yes, that’s right. The Disney Couture range. Make no mistake, though -- this stuff is definitely not for kids, and if you’re a follower of international It Girls, you may well have seen her Tinkerbell necklaces adorning the décolletage of the likes of Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, et al.

SmartShanghai’s favorite piece is this Tinkerbell Charm Bracelet, complete with enameled leaves, flowers and insects. Infantile regression never looked so good.

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Recycled Packaging Jewelry

Perhaps your lady friend likes her jewelry to make an altogether more serious statement. If so, consider this colorful piece from Madame Mao’s Dowry. Every one of these eye-catching necklaces and bracelets are unique. How so? Because each of beads are in fact made from recycled food packaging making for fashion with a conscience.

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El Delgado Buil Fox Belt

Les Lucioles on Jinxian Lu is a gem of a store: inviting and cozy, it stocks some unusual labels and designers, hailing mainly from Europe. Foxy ladies will love this fox belt, by Spanish brand El Delgado Buil. With a silk and leather strap, the clasp takes the form of two jaunty-looking foxes. Pricey, yes, but beautiful.

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Demeter Fragrances

Here’s an interesting one: American fragrance designers, Demeter, have recently landed in Shanghai and offer an altogether more fun – and downright odd – range of scents than you’d find in your average Sephora. Their library boasts more than 300 fragrances including Wet Garden, Fuzzy Navel, Condensed Milk and Earthworm. Don’t let their unconventional approach put you off – whilst Funeral Home is arguably a terrible name for a perfume, the smell itself is of delicate white flowers and is really rather pleasant.

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Next: Gentlemen and we’ve found some great gifts to thrill even the most difficult-to-buy-for chap...

An Interesting Watch

Specializing in ‘Goods for the Modern Man’, Aegis on Julu Lu is packed with tasteful and trendy clothing and accessories for the most dapper of gents, including Void watches by Swedish designer David Ericsson. A little confusing at first, the analogue version comprises a brushed steel rectangle revealing a semi-circular face with two sets of hands and numbers to determine the time. The store also stock simple, stylish and colorful watches by UK brand Uniform Wares. All statement pieces, there’s sure to be at least one timepiece to please (Void – Analog 1900rmb; Void – Digital 1450rmb; Uniform Ware – 1100rmb).

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Custom Shoes

Guy friends complain to me all the time that it can be a struggle to find shoes in larger sizes in Shanghai. Cue Giotto shoes who make shoes for men and women in a variety of materials and to any size. From patent leather through to pony skin, Giotto specialize in brogues and boots. What’s more, their Taikang Lu shop smells divine: a heady combination of craftsmanship and style.

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A Conversation-Starting T-Shirt

For something altogether more casual, t-shirts always make great gifts. Produc-T have some pretty interesting designs, but the two current standouts are Shanghai metro map in black (useful for the navigationally-challenged), and a How to eat Xiao Long Bao comic strip design. Functionality and fashion unite.

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The following are super-stylish gifts for men or women that deserve a place under only the coolest of Christmas trees...

A Bike for Christmas...

If the rumors are true and taxi fares really are once again going up, then this Christmas is as good a time as any to treat someone you really like to a bicycle. Happily, classic Shanghai brand Forever have recently released their Forever C, a modern take on a timeless classic. Available exclusively via their Taobao shop, these iconic bicycles are perfect for weaving through the Shanghai traffic.

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iPad sleeve

Chicness is a perquisite for owning Apple products, and Apple fans will appreciate this next gift idea: a leather envelope for their iPad. Available in black or bright green they will only add to admirers’ envy of its owner’s impossibly up-to-date gadgetry.

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DEAN Card Holder by Mrkt

Doling out business cards is integral to Shanghai living and business-ing. Purchase this funky felt card holder for a friend or loved one and say farewell to misplaced, dog-eared cards that invariably find their way into the laundry. Available in six super trendy colors.

Luxe Guides Asian Collection

Living in Shanghai affords us many a perk. One not to be overlooked is the opportunity to travel to other destinations in Asia, and so that you’ll never be stuck for a cocktail bar, Michelin-starred restaurant or boutique in any of them, it would be wise to invest in a set of Luxe Guides.

Erotic Diversions

Super stylish brand LELO are known for their tasteful takes on erotic accessories and sex toys -- or 'pleasure objects' as the classy company would have us call them. Make this Christmas a very happy one indeed by presenting a loved one with something from their new line, Insignia. Waterproof, near silent and made from body safe silicone, the three pleasure objects in the range could quite feasibly be mistaken for some endlessly curved piece of Modernist sculpture and are a world away from some of the cringey wares to be found in your common-or-garden sex shop. They also come with a cute double infinity brooch – wear it and feel like you’re part of a very discrete, extremely in-the-know club.

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Board Game Thing

While away long journeys or perhaps leisurely afternoons with this games set from Chogu. Comprising chess, mahjong, checkers and something else, it’s magnetic so you really have to try hard to lose any of the tiny pieces. Compact, it folds four ways for endless hours of fun.

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Booze

If you’re really stuck for ideas, you could do a lot worse than a nice bottle of booze. The ever-patient staff at Globus Wines will deftly guide you through their impressive selection to find the perfect bottle to match your budget. Perhaps you’ll choose the highly recommended 2006 Crianza from Atalayas de Golbán (275rmb), or, for a wine to remember, splash out on a bottle of Screaming Eagle for an eye-watering 19,500rmb.

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Homeware -- especially if it's of the novelty, Christmas persuasion -- always makes great gifts. Herewith a just a few ideas....

Reindeer Wine Stopper

FinlanDesign is a veritable treasure trove of covetable items, all, as the name suggests, designed by Finns. They currently have in stock festive reindeer napkin holders and a cheery-looking Rudolph-esque wine stopper. No Christmas spread is complete without ‘em.

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Christmas Cookie Cutters

YiPin is nestled amongst the chic shops, bars and restaurants of new development, Surpass Court. There’s much to tempt the amateur home baker, but these Christmas cookie cutters are particularly seasonal.

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Sabre Old Fashioned

Platane is the place to pick up fun, kitschy cutlery by French brand Sabre. The range is called ‘Old Fashioned’, presumably referring to the very classical styling of the pieces. The colours, though – all 25 of them – and plastic acrylic material make them thoroughly modern and fun to mix and match.

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One very important demographic who should be left out of no self-respecting Christmas gift guide is, of course, children. Maybe you know some...

FlatOut Bear

It is hard to put into words how gorgeously, comfortingly soft these teddy bears from Platane really are. FlatOut bear is made from 100% Australian sheepskin. Completely natural and really rather luxurious the bear comes in two sizes and various colors. They’re quite simply adorable – buy one.

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Pedal Cars

Whether your child is an aspiring race car driver, or perhaps future collector of vintage autos, he or she will almost certainly love tearing around in these admittedly rather expensive, retro tin pedal cars.

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Panda Notebooks

These Panda notebooks make cute stocking fillers for children and adults alike. There are four to choose from – Remnin Panda, Baozi Panda, Yue Bing Panda, and, most Shanghai-centric of all, Xiao Long Bao Panda.

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Last but by no means least, here's an idea for our furry friends this Christmas, courtesy of Coco de Bisyu...

Pets Wear

Make sure your mutt is dressed to impress, perhaps in this adorable I Heart SH jumper, or perhaps an army uniform, complete with hat? Pooches wishing to make a more subtle statement may prefer colorful qipao collars, or maybe push the boat out (this is Christmas, after all) with a full on kimono outfit. The array in this Taikang Lu store is, quite frankly, mind boggling.

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Happy shopping!

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